I have just returned from a great trip to Colorado and California. It was my first pastoral trip since Covid, and it was a joy.

Once again, the organizational and collaborative skills of virtually the entire RMR were on display, not to mention their faith and love. It was a great day for the RMR and for the ECC. Bishop Kae has already demonstrated her immense skills at “steering a diverse ship.” She is a consensus maker, and she does this by carefully listening to and perceiving of what others are expressing. To borrow from Paul’s image of the body, she is like a heart and brain that listens closely to what the ear, the eye, the hand, etc. is saying; and she helps them reach an agreement about a coordinated effort going forward. We look forward to where the Spirit will lead this vibrant area of the ECC next!

While we were in Colorado for Kae’s consecration, Bishops Armando, Denise, Kedda, Rafe, Kae, and I made our biennial retreat together at Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado. (Bishop Peter was unable to join us, however we are looking for ways to better include him in the college of bishops as he continues to improve from his stroke of three and a half years ago.) It is appropriate that we met in Colorado because it was there that we first crafted and signed what we call the “Colorado Covenant,” which is our pledge to each other to function collaboratively and cooperatively as followers of Christ. When this document was first crafted in April of 2016, it was authored by 6 male bishops. So this time, now that we have 3 female bishops, I invited the women who have joined us to consider our covenant with each other and to offer edits, which they did and which we all approved. The new document has yet to be shared with Bishops Peter and Rick (who is retired and unable to travel), so I will wait to share the document until we have had a chance to share it with them. Signing the document symbolized very well the covenantal relationship we experienced with each other that week as we considered our own unity and the unity of out beloved Communion. We also focused on our take of our mission together, which we are looking forward to dialoguing about with everyone and together working toward a communion of purpose. I am so grateful for these women and men with whom I serve.

On Saturday morning, September 25^th, I met with about 20 members of St. Matthew’s community in Orange, CA for about 2 and half hours. We talked honestly and openly together about various concerns members of St. Matt’s had. I believe that our time was well spent because it was sisters and brothers listening to each other. In this Communion we care about unity, and we work very hard at it. I have many friends at St. Matthew going back many years, and I look forward to engaging more with our Mother Church in the months ahead. Afterwards I went to lunch with our beloved Founding Presiding Bishop, Peter Hickman, and his wife, Mirella, both longtime friends. It was a joy to spend time with them and to see the progress Bishop Peter is making in his recovery. I told him I would like to find more ways to incorporate him into the functions and the camaraderie of the Council of Bishops. In this connection I also want to note that in Colorado, since Bishop Peter could not attend the Bishops’ Retreat, Bishop Peter and Bishop Armando, Bishop of the ECC Diocese of California, each set aside a good amount of time to be with each other and to renew their commitment to their longtime friendship and to working together.

Mary Magdalene Society Fund Raiser, Saturday Evening, September 25^th

On Saturday evening, Merry and Tony Battalia hosted a fundraiser for 13 members and participants of the Mary Magdalene Society. We had a superb time and a wonderful meal, enjoyed socializing, listened to three recipients of MMS grants (Tammy Fuqua from St. Matt’s, Lourdes Talamantes from the ECC California Diocese, and Gianni Passarella from Holy Angels), and raised $2,300.00! The money will be used, as always, for assisting 1) newer ECC clergy getting established and 2) youths participating in ECC youth programs. Thanks to everyone around the Communion who has allowed us to provide $8,000 this year for these worthy causes! I am personally very grateful for your generosity over the years!

On Sunday, September 26^th, I went to the “Grand Opening” of Holy Angels. I was so moved at how it became an occasion for ECC clergy in the area to come together and to mark the official beginning of this new ECC parish. In blessing the new altar, we prayed “Make it a table of joy, where the friends of Christ cast upon You their burdens and cares and take up their journey restored.” It is so good to see Father Gianni functioning as pastor of this young church, full of talent and faith in it’s leadership. May they prosper together for many years to come, always finding a way, as they did here at their beginning, to be in communion with the other ECC communities around them.

As most of you know, the Holy Synod of 2020 was officially adjourned after a one day session on July 18^th. Click here to read and/or download the newly revised Constitution and here for the newly revised Statutes.

Here are some wonderful opportunities for us to sharpen our commitment to racial justice.

·       Virtual Retreat on Anti-Racism to be given by Deacon Joan Crawford, Friday evening, November 5^th and Saturday during the day, November 6^th; this is primarily intended for clergy so that they may offer the program to their own parishes/communities. But of course, lay persons are most welcome to attend the retreat. More specific information will be sent out to interested persons. There will be a free will offering taken up for this experience. If you are interested, as I am, please click here to register; in a week or so we’ll send you more information, including a link to join and a schedule. I hope to interact with a good number of you in this way soon!

·       Discussion of the book, Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson, will be led by Joan as well for the Arizona Faith Network every other Monday beginning October 11 at 6:30 (Arizona time). Interested persons need to register by clicking here.

·       Jenn Reyes Lay is facilitating a book study of My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies, by Resmaa Menakem, for three months in the winter term.

Please notice the two-part system our constitution lays out for nominations. The first one, the nominations of the Presiding Bishop Nominations Committee, is about to begin. Those nominees (up to 3) will be announced on January 10, 2022. The second part of the two-way nominating system, so-called “Floor Nominations”, will begin following that announcement on January 10, 2022. Please see # 4.0 and following of the ECC Statutes for more detail.

1.     The PBNC will be announced on the ECC website by October 31.

2.     Please be prepared to suggest candidates for nomination to the PBNC during the month of November; the deadline for submitting names will be established by the PBNC.

3.     Consider the qualities you want for the next PB. Last time around the top three characteristics the Communion wanted the PB to possess were: Compassion, Leadership Ability, and A Personal Faith Commitment. Consider the things said about the Presiding Bishop in the Constitution and Statutes of the ECC (see link above) and the Guidelines for Selecting a Bishop, called for in the statutes and developed by the Council of Bishops this year. Click here to view those Guidelines.

4.     The PBNC will have until January 10^th to determine its nominees. Each person named may be contacted, vetted, interviewed, and asked if they are willing and able submit to this process of communal discernment. Then the PBNC will discern its nominees.  

Additional nominations from the Communion, following the rules in #4 of the ECC Statutes, must be announced during the period between January 10 and April 10, allowing 6 months for the Communion to discern from among the nominees.   

Let’s pray during this process. It is not a battle between factions, though we may have our differences at times; but rather it is a discernment of the Body of Christ searching for consensus.  

Since the item above is the last , may I say what an honor it is to serve this Communion. I am grateful for having the opportunity.

Council of Bishops

Leadership Council

Steering Committees of the House of Laity and the House of Pastors

Treasurer of the OPB and HOL Finance Committee

Mary Magdalene Society

Truth & Reconciliation Commission

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